Apparatus for making spring units



April 9, 1963 F. G. HODGES, JR

APPARATUS FOR MAKING SPRING UNITS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 16, 1959 INVENTOR. b@as, J

April 9, 1963 F. e. HODGES, JR 3,084,345

APPARATUS FOR MAKING SPRING UNITS Filed Nov. 16, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

April 9, 1963 F. e. HODGES, JR

APPARATUS FOR MAKING SPRING UNITS s Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 16, 1959 \w A mwm E @Y \mm Wu MIMI. w m .4 NMN wmwl wwm N April 9, 1963 F. G. HODGES, JR 3,034,345

APPARATUS FOR MAKING SPRING, UNITS Filpd Nov. 16, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 April 9, 1963 F. G. HODGES, JR 3,

APPARATUS FOR MAKING SPRING UNITS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 d Mg H/ j edema/v 413904951. f/Xfazga M w April 9, 1963 F. e. HODGES, JR 3,084,345

APPARATUS FOR MAKING SPRING UNITS Filed Nov. 16, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 IN V EN TOR.

rates Unite The present invention relates to a novel apparatus for assembling spring units, and more particularly to a novel apparatus for producing coil spring units of a type which may be used in mattresses, cushions, automobile seats and the like.

In my Patents Nos. 2,382,226, dated August 14, 1945, and 2,716,308, dated August 30, 1955, apparatus is disclosed for feeding successive springs into adjacent relationship in a predetermined spring pattern and then stapling end coils of adjacent springs together. In the apparatus disclosed, shuttles were provided for feeding the springs to a predetermined location, which shuttles also provided anvils against which stapling heads forced wire staples for bending the staples around substantially abutting portions of end coils of the springs. With this arrangement, the operation of forcing the staples against the anvil portions of the shuttles imposes severe lateral thrusts upon the shuttles so that the shuttles are subjected to damage or undue wear. Furthermore the thrusts created by the simultaneous operation of a large number of stapling heads are cumulative so that very substantial forces are created which may be capable of flexing or distorting the entire frame of the apparatus. :In certain instances, the stapling operation may not always be reliable as the result of difficulty in maintaining the desired alignment or the relationship between the stapling head, a staple carried thereby and a cooperable anvil so that certain end coils of the springs may not be properly connected.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus for assemblying and securing coil springs together in a predetermined spring pattern in a manner which overcomes difiiculties of the type discussed above.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus of the type disclosed in my aforementioned patent, which improved apparatus is constructed so as to connect the springs with wire rings and the like without forcing such rings against any anvil means or similar structure and without thrusts in the apparatus which may be injurious thereto or impede the operation thereof.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus of the above type which is capable of connecting adjacent springs with improved reliability.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved mattress structure wherein springs and padding of sisal and the like are fastened together in a manner which enables the padding to provide a stronger and more durable connection between spaced apart springs.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an apparatus and incorporating features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a spring unit which may be constructed with the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally along lines 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a further enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 3 but shows a portion of the apparatus for applying connecting rings to adjacent end coils of springs in greater detail;

" atent Q FIG. 5 is a fragmentary partial sectional view taken along line 55 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken generally along lines 66 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a further enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing a portion of the apparatus for applying a connecing ring to the springs with a connecting ring in an initial stage of assembly with the springs;

FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 7 but shows the connecting ring completely applied to the end coils of adjacent springs;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a modified form of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the manner in which a mattress structure may be constructed in accordance with features of the present invention in the modified apparatus of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 1111 in FIG. 10;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views showing in greater detail the manner in which securing rings or clips are assembled in the modified apparatus;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a mattress structure incorporating features of the present invention and adapted to be assembled in the apparatus of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 15- 15 in FIG. 10.

Referring particularly to FIG. 2, a spring unit 10 adapted to be assembled by means of the apparatus of the present invention is shown. This unit comprises a plurality of coil springs 12 which may be of any desired construction and which are arranged in a predetermined pattern having transversely and longitudinally extending rows of springs. In the embodiment illustrated, end coils of the springs substantially abut each other transversely and longitudinally of the pattern. The end coils are connected to each other at the areas of substantial abutment by means of hog rings or clips 14. If desired, upper and lower ends of the springs may be respectively covered by insulators 16 and 18 of known construction or with sheets of sisal or the like. These sheets may be and preferably are secured to the springs by the hog rings or clips 14.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 1, an apparatus 20 incorporating features of the present invention is shown. The apparatus comprises a plurality of chutes 22 or other suitable means providing a source of supply for a plurality of lines of coil springs 12. Means 24 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 is associated with each of the chutes 22 for receiving springs advancing endwise in the chutes and then feeding the springs laterally or sideways with the axes of successive springs in substantially parallel relationship.

Units 26 are respectively disposed beneath and associated with each of the feeding or conveying means 24 for partially compressing the springs and turning the springs about their axes for orientating the conventional knots or tie portions of the springs in a predetermined manner. A shuttle structure 28 is arranged above the units 2.6 and is constructed so that it is adapted to advance a row of springs from the units 26 to a work station 30 at which the springs are connected together in the manner described below.

A continuous web of the insulator sheet 16 is fed from a supply roll 32 shown in FIG. 1 around a guide roller 34 and against ends of the springs located at the work station 30 as shown in FIG. 3. Similarly a continuous web of the insulator 18 is delivered from a supply roll 36 around a guide roller 38 and against opposite ends of the springs at the work station 36. Means 40 and 42 are disposed at opposite sides of the work station 30 for applying hog rings or clips through the sheets 16 and 1E and to adjacent or abutting portions of end coils of the springs for connectingthe springs and the sheets together. Means 44 is arranged for engaging and pulling or feeding the connected springs and sheets from the work station to a discharge conveyor 46.

Each of the feeding means 24 comprises a pair of opposing vertically extending endless chains 48 and 56 respectively extending around sprockets on upper and lower horizontal shafts 5254 and 56-58. Pins or projections 60 and 62 are respectively spaced along the chains 48 and St} in opposing relationship for engaging and retaining end coils of successive springs and feeding the springs upon advancing movements of the chains.

The chains 48 and -0 are advanced in timed relationship with movement of the shuttle structure 28. This is accomplished by positioning a gear 64 on and having a ratchet or one way driving connection with the shaft 52, which gear meshes with a rack 66 fixed on a portion of a shuttle structure 28. The arrangement is such that as the shuttle moves upwardly from a lower position described below to the uppermost position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the shaft 52 is driven so as to advance springs to the units 26. Of course the chains 50 are driven in time relationship with the chains 43 and this is accomplished by providing gearing means 68shown in FIG. 1 for driving the shaft 56 from the shaft 52.

Each of the units 26 comprises a pair of pivotally mounted plates 70 and 72, (see FIGS. 3 and 6) which are resiliently biased for providing a trough for receiving springs from the feeding means 24. As shown in FIG. 3, a plunger 74 is disposed for recipro-cable movement between a pair of trough plates 76 and 72 for thrusting a spring against a stop plate 76 at an opposite end of the trough provided by the plates 70 and 72. The plunger is supported for reciprocable movement by a bracket 78. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 a reciprocable platform 80 extends horizontally across the apparatus for supporting the brackets 78 of the various units 26. In order to reciprocate or actuate the platform and thus the plunger 74, rack bars 82 and 84 are fixed to and extend from the platform for meshing engagement with suitably driven pinions 86 and 88 on a drive shaft 90.

As shown in FIG. 3, each of the units 26 include a rotatable indexing cone 92. The cone 92 is mounted on a shaft 94 rotatably supported by a bracket 96. A shiftable platform 98 similar to the above described platform 80 supports the brackets for all of the indexing cones of the various units 26.

The cone 92 extends through a sleeve 100 which supports the stop plate 76 and is axially shiftable relative to a bracket 102 which is mounted on the platform 98. A compression spring 104 biases the stop plate 76 outwardly between the ends of the trough plates. Suitable gearing and drive means 106 is mounted on the platform 98 for driving the indexing cone shaft in the desired manner.

Suitable means which may include reversible electric motors 119 and 112 shown in FIG. 1 and control circuits therefor are provided for advancing and retracting the platforms 89 and 98 in timed relationship with each other and in time with the operation of other portions of the apparatus. The construction is such that upon completion of advancing movement of the platform 80 so that the springs are forced against the stop plates 76 of the units 26, the platform 98 is advanced to insert the cones 92 of the units 26 which are constantly rotating into the springs. The cones frictionally engage the springs and rotate them until the tie knot or other predetermined element of the springs engages an extendable stop or abutment pin 114 (see FIG. 3) so that the springs are orientated in a predetermined manner.

The shuttle structure 28 comprises vertically reciprocable heads 116 and 118 at opposite sides of the apparatus. As indicated in FIG. 1, the head 116 is adapted to be activated by means of a connecting rod 120 eccentrically connected to a gear 122 fixed on a shaft 124. Identical gear and connecting rod means, not shown, is provided for actuating the head means 118. Any desired structure including a prime mover or motor 126 and associated drive means 123 may be provided for driving the gear 122 and the corresponding gear, not shown, at the opposite end of the shaft 124.

The shuttle structure 28 comprises a slotted cross bar 130 extending between and movable with the vertieally reciprocable heads 116 and 118. A fixed slotted cross bar. 132 is mounted between opposite side frame portions of the apparatus beneath the vertically reciprocable cross bar 130. Shuttles 134, 136, 133, and 142 are disposed in fan-like relationship betweeen the bars 130 and 132.

As shown in FIG. 3, the shuttle "138 comprises a pair of elongated shuttle plates 144 and 146 secured together in spaced apart relationship. A stud 148 extends from an upper end portion of the shuttle plate 144 and projects slidably and pivotally through the slotted cross bar 139. A lower end portion of the shuttle plate 144 slidably extends through a guide bracket 150 which is adjustably secured to the slotted cross bar 132. All of the remaining shuttles are similarly constructed and connected with the cross bar 130 and with guide brackets identical to the brackets 150 mounted on the cross bar 132 so that the duplicate elements need not be described in detail. It sufiices to state that the fan shaped arrangement of the shuttles is such that when the shuttles pick up springs from the units 26 in the manner described below, they advance the springs both downwardly and laterally into substantially abutting relationship with each other and with springs previously delivered to the work station 30 for facilitating subsequent connection of the springs.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the shuttle plate memhere 144 and 146 as well as the pairs of plate members of the other shuttles are spaced apart sufficiently so that they are adapted to be inserted into the coil springs along innersides of opposite endmost coils 152 and 154 when the springs are properly positioned and retained between the plungers 74 and the stop plates 76. As indicated in FIGS. 4 and 6, arcuate seats or abutments 156 and 158 are provided on the shuttle plates for engaging edges of the coils 152 and 154 so that these springs will be carried in a predetermined manner by the shuttles to the work station 30. Furthermore flanges 157 and 159 extend from the abutment for overlying and positively retaining the end coils.

The operation of the shuttle structure is such that when the springs are properly positioned between the plunger 74 and the stop plate 76, the shuttles are lowered or advanced from the raised positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 toward the work station 30. As the shuttles move downwardly, they pass between the pairs of trough plates of the units 26 as shown in FIG. 6 and engage the springs and force the springs downwardly from the trough plates and into closely adjacent or abutting relationship in a predetermined pattern at the work station 30.

In order to advance connected springs away from the work station 30 to make way for a subsequent row of springs to be delivered by the shuttle structure, a pair of hook members 162 and 164 is provided, which hook members are disposed at opposite sides of and are adapted to engage the spring structure in the manner to be described. The hook members are respectively fixed on rock shafts 166 and 168 from which lever arms 170 and 172 extend. These shafts are mounted on and carried by cross head members 176 at opposite sides of the apparatus and movable with the shuttle head means. The lever arms are connected by chains 174 with a fixed abutment 1'75. The arrangement is such that during downward movement of the shuttle head means, the

hook members 162 and 164 engage the spring structure and move downwardly for advancing the spring structure. v 1116 the operations of the various portions of the apparatus discussed above are believed to be clear, reference is hereby made to my patents previously mentioned herein for additional details concerning the operation, structure and control and drive means of the foregoing portions of the apparatus.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 the means 49 for applying the hog rings or clips 14 comprises adjacently mounted head structures 178 and 1811 respectively for applying clips for connecting the springs longitudinally and transversely of the spring pattern. The means 42 includes similar head structures 182 and 184. It is important to note that these hog rings or clip applying head structures are constructed so that they are capable of independently applying the rings or clips 14 to the springs. Thus while the shuttles are constructed for maintaining the desired relationship between portions of adjacent spring end coils to be connected, the shuttles are also formed so as to avoid any material engagement or interference with the rings or clips 14 and the head structures 178-454.

More specifically, as shown best in FIG. 6, all of the shuttle plate members are provided with elongated end portions similar to the end portion 185 of the shuttle plate member 146, which elongated end portions are adapted to overlap a coil of a spring substantially abutting the spring carried by the shuttle for maintaining the substantially abutting end coils in substantially the same plane. In addition all of the shuttle plate members are provided with lateral extensions 187 adapted to engage and support an end coil of an adjacent spring in a direction extending transversely of the spring pattern or, in other words, a spring carried by an immediately adjacent shuttle. The axial and lateral extensions of the various shuttle plate members are formed with recesses or slots similar to the recesses 191 and 193 shown in the shuttle plate member 146 so that the shuttles will avoid engagement with the clips or the clip applying heads.

All of the clip applying head structures are essentially identical so that only one of them need to be described. Referring particularly to FIGS. 4 and 5, wherein a portion of the head structure 182 is broken and it is seen that the structure comprises a slide 186 operable between guide or frame members 188 and 190. A pair of jaw members 192 and 194 are also slidably disposed between the guide elements 188 and 190 and are pivotally connected to each other intermediate their ends by a pin 196. Inner or trailing ends of the jaw members are pivotally connected with short links 198 and 200 which in turn have a lost motion connection with the slide 186 through a link 2112 pivotally connected to the slide and a pin 2% connected to the links 198 and 200 and extending through an elongated slot in the link 202.

When the slide and the jaw members are in the retracted positions shown in FIG. 4, outer end portions 206 and 208 of the jaw members are spread apart for receiving a portion of a wire to be formed into a ring or clip in the manner described below. It will be noted that recesses 21% and 212 are formed in portions of the guide members 188 and 190 so that when the slide and jaw members are shifted to the extended position shown in FIG. 8 and in broken lines in FIGS. 4 and 5, the trailing end portions of the jaw members are permitted to spread apart so that the leading end portions 206 and 268 of the jaws members are pinched together for forming a clip 14. A compression spring 214 is provided between trailing end portions of the jaw members and, in addition, the linkage structure connecting the trailing ends of the jaw members and the slides is formed for spreading the trailing ends of the jaw members when the slide has been substantially fully extended.

As shown in FIG. 4, wire stock 216 from which the clips or rings 14 are to be formed is fed into the space between the guide members 188 and through an aperture 218 adjacent the outer ends of the guide members. In order to feed the wire 216, a lever 220 is provided adjacent the guide member :190 and is pivotally mounted about a pin 222. A free end portion of the lever is formed with an opening 224 through which the wire 216 extends, and a one way biting 101' gripping pa-wl 226 is pivotally mounted within the lever opening for engaging the wire and feeding the wire when the lever is pivoted in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4. In order to pivot the lever in the desired manner, a cam follower 228 is fixed thereon for engagement with a cam 230 which extends through a laterally opening slot in the guide mem. ber 1199 and is connected to and movable with the slide 186. Spring means 231 serves to maintain the cam fiollower 228 in engagement with the cam.

During the forming and applying or a wire ring or clip, the wire 216 is fed so that it substantially completely traverses the space between the guide members 188 and 190. An intermediate portion of the wire between the guide members is supported by an anvil 232 shown best in FIG. 5 so that upon advancement of the slide and the jaw members, the fiorward ends of the jaw members sever the exposed portion of the wire from the remaining stock material and form the severed portion around the anvil 232 into a generally U-shape such as that shown in FIG. 7. It will be noted that the leading end portions 206 and 208 of the jaw members have slots 231 and 233 therein merging with grooves 234 and 236 formed along their inner faces for receiving end portions of the wire and thereby maintaining positive control over the clip during formation thereof. As shown best in FIG.- 5 the groove 234 is inclined downwardly at angle from the longitudinal axis of its jaw members. The groove 236 is oppositely or upwardly inclined. As a result, the grooves serve to deflect the ends of the wire ring 14 in opposite directions so that the ends do not interfere with each other when the wire is bent into a completed ring as shown in FIG. 8. In addition it is to be noted that a pad 238 at the end of an arm 240 is disposed for engaging and backing up or supporting an intermediate portion of the wire clip during the severing and forming operation. The pad supporting arm 240 is carried by the pivot pin 196 of the jaw members.

After the wire clip has been formed into the initial U-shaped configuration, it is necessary to retract the end of the anvil 232. As shown in FIG. 5, this maybe accomplished by supporting the anvil 232 on a lever 242 pivotably mounted on a pin 244. A cam follower 246 mounted on the lever 242 is disposed for engagement with a cam 248 carried by and movable with the slide member 186 for supporting the lever and thus the anvil 232 in the desired elevated position and for permitting the anvil :to be shifted by gravity or otherwise to a lowered or retracted position.

After the wire clip has been formed into the U-shape shown in FIG. 7, continued advancement of the slide 186 and the jaw members positions the clip through the strands of the insulator sheet covering the end coils of the springs and around substantially abutting portions of end coils also as shown in FIG .7. Then upon still further advancement of the slide member and the jaws, the outer end portions 206 and 298 of the jaws are pinched together in the manner described above and this action causes the intermediate portion of the generally U-shaped clip blank to bend as shown in FIG. 8 so that the ring is formed completely around and securely connects the adjacent portions of the spring end coils. It will be appreciated that this application of the clips to the springs and the sheets of insulating or other material is accomplished without interference with or imparting shocks or stresses to the shuttles so that undue wear or injury to the machine is avoided and high speed and efiicient operation is promoted. Furthermore since an exact relationship may be easily maintained between the cooperable jaw members and their cooperable elements, the clips may be formed and applied with a high degree of reliability.

In order to actuate the clip applying head structures, clutch and drive means 250 shown in FIG. 3, are provided for the various head structures. These clutch and drive means are essentially identical to the corresponding structure in my aforementioned patent and reference is made to the patent for details of construction and operation. It suffices to state here that the various clutch means are provided with cams operably engageable with cam followers or rollers 252 connected with the slides of the various clip applying head structures for reciprocating the slides in the desired manner. Of course the clutches are operated for actuating the clip applying vhead structures in timed relationship with remaining portions of the apparatus.

FIGS. 9 through 15 show another embodiment of the present invention which .is similar to the structure described above as indicated by the application of identical reference numerals with the suffix a added to corresponding parts. It will be noted that in this embodiment; the spring unit 10a includes features which will be described more in detail below and comprises a plurality of rows of the springs 12a, which rows are spaced apart in a direction extending transversely of the spring unit. The pieces of sheet material 16a and 18a which cover the opposite ends of the springs are, in this embodiment, relatively stiff and self-supporting so that the sheets are adapted to provide the sole means fixing and supporting the rows of springs in the desired spaced apart relationship when the sheets are secured to the ends of the springs by the clips 14a.

In order to produce the cushion unit 1011 which is especially suitable for use in a mattress structure, the apparatus 20a is, as shown in FIG. 9, constructed in essentially the same manner as the apparatus 20 described above except that the shuttles are arranged to reciprocate along parallel paths of travel and the shuttles and their associated spring feeding, positioning and securing means are ,spread apart so that the rows of springs are spread apart as discussed above. In addition the apparatus 280 is not provided with clip applying heads or units for connecting adjacent springs transversely of the spring pattern as is the mechanism 20 described above since such slip applying heads are-unnecessary in view of the lateral spacing of the rows of springs. For any further information as to the overall construction and operation of the apparatus 20a reference is made to the above description of the apparatus 20 and to my aforementioned patents, particularly the earliest patent.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 10-15, it is seen that the sheets 16:: and 18a of padding material which is preferably matted sisal or rubberized sisal fibers are of considerable thickness. Furthermore, the end portions 286a and 208a of the clip applying jaw members 192a and 194a pierce the padding of sheet material during application of a clip to adjacent end coils of springs in the same row as shown best in FIGS. 12 and 13. The entering end portions 206a and 208a of the jaw members are tapered both longitudinally and transversely so that they are provided with needle-like free ends which, along with the rounded configuration of the outer surfaces of the jaw members indicated best in FIG. 11 enables the jaw members to penetrate the padding material without unduly tearing or cutting the individual fibers. Thus when the jaw members are withdrawn, the resilient fibers of the padding material spring back substantially to close openings 260 and 262 formed by the jaw members in the padding material as shown in FIG. 15.

Referring particularly to FIG. 12, it is to be noted that the width of the clip element 14a or in other words the distance between the legs of the generally U-shaped clip element is initially substantially greater than the combined diameters of the Wires of the substantially abutting end coils #15411. Then When the jaw members are pinched together to form the clip around the abutting portions of the spring end coils as shown in FIG. 13 the overall width of the clip is reduced until it substantially tightly embraces the end coils. At the same time portions 264 of the padding material are gathered and compacted between the opposing portions of the clips as shown best in FIGS. 11 and 15. This feature is important since, it will be noted that the portions 264 of the padding which are encircled by the clips serve to connect the remainder of the sisal sheets or padding with the springs. With the structure just described the connection between the springs and padding is'improved and strengthened since the gathered portions 264 of the padding material include more fibers and are stronger than an ungathered portion of the padding having a width corresponding to the finished or crimped width of the clips. In addition the gathered portions have wider connections with the remainder of the padding material than such ungathcred portions, which connections are at opposite sides of the clips and extend along imaginary lines having lengths at least substantially as great as the original Width of the clips. The connection thus provided between the sisal padding and springs is of particular importance in this embodiment'since, as heretofore pointed out, the sisal pads provide the only means for maintaining the rows of springs in the desired assembled relationship.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it is obvious that many structural details may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. An apparatus for producing spring units comprising means for feeding a plurality of coil springs in adjacent relationship and into a predetermined spring pattern having a plurality of springs in each of a plurality of rows extending longitudinally and transversely of the pattern, said feeding means comprising shuttles engageable with inner sides of endmost coils of the springs and including abutments engagable with edges of the endmost coils and means projecting from the abutments for overlying the endmost coils for positively retaining and positioning the springs, and means operable from a location outwardly of the endmost coils of the springs for completely applying connecting clips to adjacent portions of adjacent springs.

2. An apparatus for producing spring units comprising means for feeding coil springs into predetermined juxtaposition relative to each other with axes of the springs in parallel relationship, means for feeding sheet material over end coils of said springs, and means adjacent said feeding means and comprising a pair of cooperable jaws having relatively sharply pointed free ends for piercing said sheet material and for applying connecting clips to the sheet material and adjacent portions of adjacent springs and for then pinching the clips for gathering the sheet material and securing the clips around said adjacent spring portions for connecting the springs and the sheet material.

References'tliited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,887,215 Owen Nov. 8, 1932 1,999,923 Binch Apr. 30, 1935 2,250,800 Hodges July 29, 1941 2,325,322 Jackson July 27, 1943 2,382,226 Hodges Aug. 14, 1945 2,391,891 Frankel Jan. 1, 1946 2,716,308 Hodges Aug. 30, 1955 2,887,693 Hodges May 26, 1959 2,924,826 Koppinger Feb. 16, 1960 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SPRING UNITS COMPRISING MEANS FOR FEEDING A PLURALITY OF COIL SPRINGS IN ADJACENT RELATIONSHIP AND INTO A PREDETERMINED SPRING PATTERN HAVING A PLURALITY OF SPRINGS IN EACH OF A PLURALITY OF ROWS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY AND TRANSVERSELY OF THE PATTERN, SAID FEEDING MEANS COMPRISING SHUTTLES ENGAGEABLE WITH INNER SIDES OF ENDMOST COILS OF THE SPRINGS AND INCLUDING ABUTMENTS ENGAGABLE WITH EDGES OF THE ENDMOST COILS AND MEANS PROJECTING FROM THE ABUTMENTS FOR OVERLYING THE ENDMOST COILS FOR POSITIVELY RETAINING AND POSITIONING THE SPRINGS, AND MEANS OPERABLE FROM A LOCATION OUTWARDLY OF THE ENDMOST COILS OF THE SPRINGS FOR COM- 